Juan Mata has his say on his lack of playing time this season

Chelsea's Juan Mata has revealed today that he has been suffering from muscle problems all season. Mata hasn’t been figured much in Jose Mourinho’s plans since he returned to Stamford Bridge and there were rumours he could have moved on in the last transfer window.

Writing in his weekly blog Grada 360 the Spanish international said he has been suffering with muscular problems all pre season which he suggests is the reason he hasn’t played that much for Chelsea this season. Mata confirmed this problem has now gone and that he is feeling good. He said he is now just looking forward to the next game after defeat at the weekend to Everton and hopes to be involved in Chelsea’s Champions League match against Basel this week.

"From a personal point of view, I can confirm that I’m feeling good after the muscular problems I’ve been suffering since pre-season. As I said before, after one defeat you just want the next match to come as soon as possible, and probably the Champions League is the best way."

Since Mata joined Chelsea two seasons ago he has twice been the club’s player of the year but since the arrival of Mourinho he hasn’t figured as much. The Spaniard played in 64 games last season including 35 of their 38 Premier League matches but he has only started twice under the new manager.

Mata was involved at the weekend from the start against Everton but was withdrawn early in the second half. His only other start this season was against Aston Villa. Mata’s lack of playing time for Chelsea has meant the playmaker’s future at the club has been called into question with Mourinho preferring to field more direct players to suit his counter attacking tactics. The player himself seems to think that injury has been behind his stop start beginning to the season, and he doesn't sound too concerned about the situation.

He also explained that he's currently reading Demian by Hermann Hesse. Demian charts a story of a boy struggling to separate the world of fantasy and reality, and help the truth become clear. Mentioning that could be using literary knowledge at a level Joey Barton could only have wet dreams about and having a pop at those who think they know what's going on with him. Or a less exciting coincidence.